Annual review at work - some advise please?

Soldato
Joined
30 May 2008
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Hi chaps,

So I have my yearly review at work next week and am going to be asking for a pay rise.

I expect they will up my pay by 2k but I'm looking for an increase of 4k. This may sound a lot but I'm not on a lot of money atm!

The thing is, I haven't signed a contract - an obvious advantage of this is I can leave whenever I want but it also means they can get rid of me whenever they want...

Should I sign before my review? In my review, I'll be threatening to leave if they don't pay me what I think I deserve.
 
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You have to justify why you're worth more money. Usually that means taking on more responsibility in the form of a promotion. It's a lot easier if you're already going above and beyond - doing some of your new role already.
 
Don't need advise on how to approach the review thanks, just wanted to hear opinions on whether I should sign the contract beforehand?

I'm over qualified for what I'm being paid, I can assure you that much.
 
There's no point in threattening to leave. Just say you enjoy your job but you're looking to progress, and feel your worth more than you're currently paid.

If they don't give you what you feel is fair look elsewhere.
 
If you're going to threaten to leave make sure you have a job to go to, just in case they call your bluff. The best way to enter these things is to have a job offer in the bag and hand in your resignation, but I realise you don't have enough time for that!
 
If you're going to threaten to leave make sure you have a job to go to, just in case they call your bluff. The best way to enter these things is to have a job offer in the bag and hand in your resignation, but I realise you don't have enough time for that!

I know quite a few people in the industry and would like to think I can secure another job pretty quickly - it comes down to can I afford to take the risk and threaten to leave...
 
Employment contract law isn't as simple as that if you received a contract and have continued to work there then you would be deemed to have accepted the terms of the contract so it makes no difference
 
I know quite a few people in the industry and would like to think I can secure another job pretty quickly - it comes down to can I afford to take the risk and threaten to leave...

It's easier to get a job when you already have one...
 
Threatening to leave without another job lined up is just plain stupid - they call your bluff - you back down - you're left looking like a complete and utter idiot and the company now knows exactly where they stand with you.

By all means ask for your additional on top of the pay rise you expect them to offer you but make sure you can justify it and back it up. Have you kept a record of the things you've done over the past year that have been over and above the call of duty? Those little instances where you've shined and taken control of a situation and seen it through to a positive conclusion. These are the things I'd imagine they'll look for before making any further financial commitment to you. Also, should you be fortunate enough to get your pay rise I'd be looking to discuss setting out a legal binding contract with the company as well so you both know where you stand.
 
but it also means they can get rid of me whenever they want...

No it doesn't. You still have your statutory rights even int he absence of a contract.

Have you asked for a contract? If you have and they do nt provide you with one then that's an automatic win at a tribunal and nice payout :-)
 
No it doesn't. You still have your statutory rights even int he absence of a contract.

Have you asked for a contract? If you have and they do nt provide you with one then that's an automatic win at a tribunal and nice payout :-)

I do have one but haven't signed it, had it for almost a year now.

Threatening to leave without another job lined up is just plain stupid - they call your bluff - you back down - you're left looking like a complete and utter idiot and the company now knows exactly where they stand with you.

I'm not quite sure how exactly they would know I'm 'bluffing', who's to say I would back down?
 
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In this economic climate, I think most people will be happy with a 2K increase as mentioned in the OP. Even if you did only get the 2K that you're expecting, remember there will be another annual review next year too. And the year after.
 
Advice - Noun.
Advise - Verb.

You're wondering if you should sign your contract, and you seem to think that as you haven't you're not protected. That's not the case, you have statutory rights and it's likely that your contract doesn't offer anything more than them so they haven't chased you for it. It doesn't matter if you sign or not. Going in and asking for 4k without being able to demonstrate why you're worth it when there will be loads of people who will do your job for less than what you are demanding will result in you not getting the 4k raise. You have to sell yourself and demonstrate why you are worth that extra.
Aren't you a runner? If so, or something like that then you're pretty expendable so I'd be careful how much you ask especially if you haven't done anything to demonstrate your worth at that figure.
 
Advice - Noun.
Advise - Verb.

You're wondering if you should sign your contract, and you seem to think that as you haven't you're not protected. That's not the case, you have statutory rights and it's likely that your contract doesn't offer anything more than them so they haven't chased you for it. It doesn't matter if you sign or not. Going in and asking for 4k without being able to demonstrate why you're worth it when there will be loads of people who will do your job for less than what you are demanding will result in you not getting the 4k raise. You have to sell yourself and demonstrate why you are worth that extra.
Aren't you a runner? If so, or something like that then you're pretty expendable so I'd be careful how much you ask especially if you haven't done anything to demonstrate your worth at that figure.

My bad, I know the difference between advise and advice, just tired. No, I'm not a runner, I'm on schedule to be promoted to film publicist in 6 months or so. It's not so much a case of asking for a 4k rise, I should be on at least 2k more than I currently am! More of just what I think is justified for the hours and hard work I put in.
 
In my experience, anyone at a 'junior' level in the film industry actually needs to move to a different company to get any sort of payrise. In my experience I don't know anyone that has gotten a decent payrise by staying at the same company. It seems to be the way of the industry.
 
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